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SS3H9N00 rio Ayvyan 



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CLARKE'S 




PTiVE-^o^CflTALOGU'' 



II I I I 




RUBBER STAMP VULCANIZEf ., 



inilTH 0\JTF=ITS. ETC. 



; . ; ; MANUFACTURED AND FOR SALE BY : : . ; 

CHAS. H. CLARKE, 

Corner East Water and Wisconsin Streets -:- -:- P.O.Box 114, 
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN. 

AND BOSTON, MASS. , a, ^ ^ , ESTABLISHED I862. 

r 1590. • 



f 



ENTERtO A,;C0R0ING TO ACT OF CONGRESS, IN THE YEAH 1890, BY CHAS- M. CLARKE, MtLWAUKEE, WIS , IN THE OFFICE OF THE LIBRARIAN 



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o Our Patrons. .:' 

I I I I I I I I I t I I I I I 

resenting this Catalogue we tendetojur thanks for past trans- 
actions and trust we maj^ have a continuance of your favors. 
We have endeavored to bring before the reader some insight into 
the Stencil Business of the present day, and particularlj-- the 
wants of the Great West in this line of work. The time 
is coming when a Stencil Engraver will be located in all cen- 
ters of business, and the work goes bj' default in many places 
now, because the distance is so great to the larger cities, and it 
-, "Takes so long to procure it. The w^ork is on the increase, how- 
ever, and the demand for it must be met, for where it is most 
used it is most appreciated. There are agricultural implement 
manufactories in this state which use hundreds of dollars' worth 
of Plates every season, and as one machine sells another if it 
has merit, the mark upon it is often the onlj^ salesman. And 
all coarse, rough surfaces which cannot be printed upon must 
be marked with the Stencil Plate. 
/ P S. — Will the Postmaster or other person who receives 

T ^-ffts Catr^ogue, and who has no use for it, do us the favor to 
hand it to some worthy- young man within his knowledge, with 
the desire to help him to a useful trade. 

Commending the careful perusal of this Catalogue, and 
istmg we may hear from you, Ave are, 
^ ^ Yours Truly, 

CHAS. H. CLARKE. 
Our references are Postmaster -Win. A. Nowell, Esq., and 
the agents of the American, Adams and United States Ex- 
press, in Milwaukee. 



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Improved Stencil Dies. 



lettex- for full names. The founders charge you about 50 cents eac. 
brand . 

We also keep on hand all sizes of Metallic letters and figures for Iron 
Founders' use. 

General Advantages of the Stencil Letter. 

THE business is pleasant, neat, health^' and useful, and is founded 
permanently upon the private wants of every individual, and the 
business wants of every community. It is subject to no license, taxa- 
tion or high rents, is not pushed by local competition, involves no costly 
outlay of time or money, and it will pay from five to tw^enty dollars a 
day whenever or wherever foUow^ed. 

A Parting Word. 

TT is often the case that canvassers wish to work two or three different 
-^ articles at one canvass under the false idea that the greater the vari- 
ety of things they have to offer the greater business they can do. If 
this were true, the genius who took a whole store around with him 
would do an immense business, because he would have something to 
suit all tastes. 

The success of the canvasser depends upon the interest he can create 
over the one line of goods he is selling. Upon that line he can put all his 
force, and he loses it if he divides it among a variety of articles. The 
biggest workers — those who can get hundreds of orders in one city or 
county, are the ones who concentrate their energy on a single line of 
work, and they are successful especially if the article is suited to the 
wants of every person. 

T 7y7"HOEVER receives this Catalogue — thinks favorably of this work — 
^ ^ means business, and who desires to learn more of the Avays of the 
canvasser, we w^ill take pleasure in corresponding with, and giving 
advice growing out of years of our experience. They were happy years 
w^hen we w^ere on the road. Let us tell him in the language of another. 
"The canvasser is to be envied who travels leisurely from town to 
town, from city to city and from state to state, enjoying and gaining 
know^ledge of our broad and beautiful country, while at the same time 
he is making money honestly and respectablj', and is contented and 
happy." 

We will endeavor to use him as we would wish to be used, and his 
success will add to ours, especially if he has energy and will persevere. 
Here is the summing up of this Catalogue. There is not another busi- 
ness in the whole land to-day so cleverly adapted and so convenient to 
travel with, and which will earn so much money on the investment. 

What Stencil Plates and Brands 
are Used For. 

MARKING Store Wrappers, Bags, Bales, Boxes and Barrels. For 
Flour, Beef, Pork, Lard, Butter, Cheese, Produce, Creameries, 
Dairies, Wines and Liquors, Vinegar, Oils, Paints, Soaps, Drugs, 
Medicines, Groceries, Tobacco, Cigars, Boots and Shoes, Dry Goods, 
Bakers, Brewers, Bottlers, Furniture, Clothing, Fish, Farming Imple- 
ments, Plows, Advertising Signs for Fences, Freight Cars, Wagons, 
Shingles, Lumber, Hotels, General Store and Photographers' Signs, Real 
Estate, Direction Plates, Gauger's Brands, Shipping, Patent and Trade 
Marks, Brass Alphabets and Figures, Name Plates for marking Clothing, 
Bed and Table Linen w^Ith Indelible Ink, and for manj' other uses. 



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Chas. H. Clarke's Milwaukee 



an do the work verj^ cleverly and they make the best of canvassers. 
We have received from 50 to 80 names a day from a lady agent. It is 
not an unusual thing to get a dozen or twenty- or more names to make 
from a single Factor^', Work Shop, Boarding House, Hotel, Store, School 
or College,— from State and County Fairs,— for presents, etc. Students 
have paid all their tuition fees by using these Dies in vacation time. We 
recall one from Ann Arbor, Mich., who took $423.00 inside of six w^eeks, 
in the summer, and in this citA', canvassing store, office and house. 

The Canvasser. 

YOUNG man, do you want to travel, and make money ? to see the 
country and be j-our own master ? If so, be fitted out at once. Go 
up North, down South, East or West, and our word for it, you will never 
get cornered or strapped, but make money easily and rapidly anywhere. 
Work your imagination a little and figure how many names you will 
have to get daily to make it pay, and it will be no wonderment to 3-ou 
jwhj' 3'-ou cannot get them. 

\ You can clear the Dies and outfit by using half your stock the first 
/week. The rest will be clear profit. You are not confined to any special 
class of people, territor3^ or time of j^ear. The field is ample, exhaust- 
less. Even if you follow the heels of another canvasser, you may do 
better than he. It is the experience of others that they often receive more 
orders when delivering than they took the first time around. With a 
few neat samples, handsomely' put up. you can reach the eye of everj'- 
body, even "the lad^' of the house." Two can travel together, one to 
canvass and the other make the work. 

About Prices. 

FIVE minutes will make a plain name plate. Six cents will pay for 
all the materials used, — brass, frame, brush, ink and directions. The 
Plates, with the Indelible Ink, etc., retail readily for 50 cents, plain 
names, and 75 cents to $L each for fanc^' bordered or scroll names, never 
less. The Ink and Brush sell for 25 cents. Agents can be employed to 
procure names at half the retail price, or any per cent, agreed on. With 
a very moderate estimate of what can be done in any place of size, fifteen 
or twent\' orders can be picked i:p in two-thirds of a day and they can 
be made in the other third. By so doing, you would make over $10 per 
day. We can give you proof of many who are now making more than 
double that amount, but how much would that be for a year? Then 
add the Ke^' Check outfit. It would be as easy to canvass for both as 
one, and even to work the Large Stencil Tools (for which see profits). 

Can you in any legitimate business do better, considering that you 
learn it in a few days, and that only $25 to $60 capital is invested ? 

Our Name Plate Dies. 

A set of our Dies consists of an alphabet of Roman Hand Made Capi- 
tal Letters, and alphabet of lower case or small letters, punctuation 
characters and seven border or scroll tools. Sixty pieces in all, com- 
pactly arranged in the case. 

Four or five styles of Plates can be made, giving an ample variety to 
choose from. These Dies are made b\^ skilled workmen, of the best Eng- 
lish steel, in the most thorough manner, Ciirefully tempered, every letter 
whole and complete in itself, and will form a perfect letter when driven 
through the brass or silver, by being struck a single light blow. The let- 
ters are well proportioned, are warranted to do their work perfectly sat- 
isfactor3' in ordinar3' hands, and with care v^'ill last a lifetime. We chal- 
lenge competition in their manufacture and acknowledge no superior in 
the land. East or West. Our price is lower for them than is asked for 



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Improved Stencil Dies. 

the very inferior italic machine made Dies that come to this market from 
the East. 

Never buy Stencil Dies till you have seen their work ! 

The thirteen First Premiums and many Testimonials we have received 
on these Tools attest their merit. 

Our Outfit. 

OUR Outfit, which contains more than double the stock, and is supe- 
rior in its details to any other offered, consists of a good Ligum Vits 
Block to cut on. Steel Hammer, Shears, Compasses, Patterns, Frames, 
Smoothing Stone, Polishing Brush, etc., and 100 bottles of Clarke's In- 
delible Ink and Directions, 100 Brushes, 100 Frames, Fine Sheet Brass 
for 125 names, and all the Instructions necessary to full j^ understand 
how to do the work. These are confidential and in no case will be given 
but to purchasers of our outfit. We will also include, if the Stencil 
Trade is taught, the receipt for our famous Indelible Ink, which we have 
manufactured for over thirt3^ years, and you can w^arrant every bottle 
of it to be indelible. This receipt has been sold for more than we ask forj 
the Dies and outfit. 

Style of our Dies, Roman or Straight. We do not make the cheap 
block or slant letters. Our sizes are 3-32, 7-64 and 1-8 inch, being the 
best sizes used. Our former price for this outfit has been $32, and it is 
well worth that money now. 

For future stock we duplicate the outfit (all but the Tools) for $6 per 
hundred — i. e., 100 each of our Indelible Ink, Brushes and Frames, and 
Sheet Brass to cut on. You can canvass for our other lines of work and 
make more than enough to procure all the stock needed after the first 
outlay. 

The Whole Trade. 

lyHOUGH these three outfits can be used on the road by the traveling 
-'- Letter Cutter, there is no limit to their usefulness in any reasonably 
large place. Work is always to be had, and any person of good address 
and energy can succeed in making money. The Tools are always worth 
the money you pay for them, and can readily be disposed of at their full 
value. 

If one outfit is procured first, it should be for Name Plates, the next 
should be the K.ey Check outfit, and the Large Stencil outfit last. We 
positively guarantee to learn 3^ou so you veill be able to cut good Narrle 
Plates and stamp good Key Checks, by letter, if you cannot visit us ; but 
we cannot so promise in the work of Stencil Letter Cutting. We will, 
however, sell the Large Outfit without the Book, etc., etc. A.s our prices 
are so low, considering quality of Tools and quantity of Stock, our 
terms must be Cash or C. O. D. To do good work you must have good 
tools. Get the Best ! 

Cash Prices of Tools and Dies, with Outfits. 



The Large Stencil Tools and Outfit, 
The Name Plate Dies, Outfit and Instructions, 
The Key Check Tools, Outfit and Instructions, 
The Three, when ordered at one time, for - 



$30 00 
25 00 
12 00 
65 00 



For $1.00 we will send samples of each kind of work to any address, 
utilizing the name sent, and this w^ill be deducted from the first order for 
Outfits. 

For teaching the "Trade of the Letter Cutter " in all its variety, with 
the choice Book of Sample work. Brass Patterns of an endless variety 
ready to cut, of Letters, Eagles, Horses, Lions, Coat-of-Arms, Crowns, 
Borders, etc.. Instructions on Canvassing, — Agencies for goods, — How 



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Chas. H. Clarke's Milwaukee 

cO handle and take orders for articles mentioned in this Catalogue, — Lo- 
calities to settle in, — Insight into Burning Brand. Seal and Rubber 
Stamp work, — Indelible, Rubber Stamp and Hard Cake India Ink Re- 
ceipts, etc., etc., our price will he made known on application. We will 
guarantee satisfaction for the outla\ and promise the party his own 
time for instruction. 

Key Clieck Dies and Outfit. 

i~nHERE is a demand everywhere for Pocket Key Checks, Umbrella 
-L Plates, Trunk Plates, and articles which cannot be marked in any 
other way than by Steel Stamping Dies made for this purpose expressly. 
This, like the Stencil Business, is very profitable — the checks selling for 
from 25 to 50 cents each. Those who canvass for Name Plates may 
make this an additional source of profit, with very little extra expense, 
as the two are often worked together. These Stamp Dies are entirely 
different from the Stencil Dies, and are used to stamp names or words on 
metal. Travelers can add no more profitable branch to their business 
than by purchasing one of these outfits, as it is actually a part of their 
line of work. Persons wanting such Plates or Checks would naturally 
go to the nearest jewelry store for them. There is large profit in their 
use. 

The Outfit consists of an Alphabet of Steel Capital Key Check Letters 
and a set of Steel Figures, size 1-12 to 1-16 inch, neatly boxed, with 
Steel Block, Hammer and 100 assorted German Silver Kej' Checks and 
Rings. Price of outfit complete, $12 cash. An alphabet of the lower 
case or small letters can be added for $6. Assorted Checks and Rings, 
$3 per hundred. Blank Carriage and Trunk Plates in Brass, $2.50 per 
hundred. In German Silver, $5 with the Pins. These are the neatest 
Blank Plates made. We will give prices on Badge Blanks and the Dies 
of other sizes. Large Letters, etc., on application. 

Brass Checks. 

TN the Key Check Outfit we include ten samples of Brass Checks, 
-L assorted sizes, as patterns, to take orders for Checks for Baggage, 
Hotel, Door, Key, Coat, Dog License, Jewelers, Cash, Pool, Parcel, Mil- 
lers, Barbers, Clubs, Express and many other uses. These we can sell 
you (Blank), that is, without being stamped or numbered. A choice set 
of Steel Figure Dies, large size, say one-quarter inch, would be added to 
the outfit above for $5, making an additional source of profit, and many 
orders can be picked up in the larger towns. The prices of the checks 
var3' a trifle, and may be sold in 25s, 50s and 100s, to suit customers. 
An hour's work will number 100 checks. Small sizes of Blanks cqst $1 
per hundred, and sell for $4 stamped. Larger sizes, $1.50, and sell for $5. 



Burning Brands. 



f\TAME Brands for burning in wood can be made by every traveling 
-'-^ or located Stencil Cutter where there is a foundr3% where they can 
have them cast, and there is no limit to their sale where they are solicited. 
Every Farmer, Fruit Grower, Merchant, Manufacturer, Mechanic or 
Miller would like his name, if nothing more,iu quarter or half-inch letters 
to brand tools, implements, etc. We furnish you with the metal letters, 
or alphabets, for patterns, and the forms to attach them to, wth shel- 
lac. After the letters are put on the form, the founder casts it in iron 
and handles it with an iron rod about two feet long. Our forms and 
letters are good to keep on using. Price of four forms, two fonts of 
letters H and V2 inch and instructions for making, $10. Extra letters 6 
cents each. The Brands sell for $1 per initials and 20 or 25 cents per 



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O 



M) 



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OFFICE OF THE .^ 

MILWAUKEE STENCIL AND STAMP WORKS. 

THE STENCIL BUSINESS. 



■rn HE regular business of Letter Cutting is as legitimate a trade as the 
-'- printers' and engravers', and the demand for it is increasing every 
day. Having been a Letter Cutter since 1857, East and West, we know 
what the country demands in this line of work. Stencil Plates are un- 
iversally used on wood, iron and leather for marking Barrels, Boxes, 
Bales, Bags, Tubs, Crates, Patented Articles, Machines, Etc. Etc. There 
is nothing invented yet to take the place of Stencil Marking Plates and 
Brands for lettering all Merchandise and Manufactures. 

So among our sixty millions of people there is an increasing demand. 
There is no one thing above the article itself that so helps its sale a.s 
when it comes to market neatly branded. A demand for this w^ork caii 
be created, and there are many large places even to cities of 20,000 people 
w^here there is no Letter Cutter located, but whei% one might have all he 
could possibly do. Many places of two, three, four and five thousand 
people could supply work of this kind if solicited bj^ a man of energy 
and push. We send Stencil Plates every day to some interior towns that 
might be given to a local cutter. Many persons need only be shown to 
appreciate a good thing and use it ever after. " The secret of success in 
any kind of business is the ability to push it and make it go, and a good 
agent or canvasser is a treasure to himself." There is a great varietv in 
this work — it is fascinating — not monotonus — no two plates are alike. 
Considering the demand there might be many men more profitably engaged 
in it, if they were distributed where they were needed. 

Stencil Engravers have been chary about teaching the trade to any 
one outside the craft from selfish motives — owing to the large profits of 
the business — fear of competition — desire to retain their customers, some 
of whom have hundreds of dollars' worth of orders in one season. We 
have made over four hundred dollars' worth of Plates from one concern 
inside of three months' time. What is needed most is tact in soliciting 
Orders. Customers can be retained year after year if good, well-finished 
work is given. There are between seven and eight hundred Flour Mills 
in Wisconsin alone. They all use Brands and Bag Marks. We have 
over 6,000 different Brands in bound books in our office on shr ^. All 
Cheese Factories are required by law to mark their Boxes. All Oils and 
Liquors are subject to government inspection and are required to be 
marked by Stencils. Notice the goods that come to 3'our town and you 
will see this work. 

Sign Plates are made in Stencil to letter Boards. Storekeepers and 
others in the larger towns and cities can find no better way of( y-^is- 
ing their goods to advantage for the money invested. When a 1 / •? 
made one can make a hundred signs in a day at only the cost of the 
board. These are put up on Trees and Fences approaching and around 
the town, seen and read of all men. We cannot enumerate all the 
various work for w^hich Stencil Plates are used in this catalogue, but 
think we have said enough to satisfy you that it is agood reliable trade. 

A Local Stencil Business. 

TT can be easily connected with other light mechanical work, and is as 
-'- permanent as that of the Tinsmith, Locksmith, Jeweler, Photographer, 
Machinist, Printer, Painter, Student or Clerk, etc., and can be made a 



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Chas. H. Clarke's Milwaukee 



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.ource of large profit. Indeed, this is its best hold — its chief characteristic. 
For the amount invested as capital it is far superior to the trades above 
named, and thousands of Professional men — Doctors, Dentists, Lawyers 
and others do not make in a week what Lhey might in a day in this 
work. 

There are many articles usually connected with the Letter Cutting 
Business to give it gain, iisefulness and stability, of which samples can 
be kept and orders taken— such as Rubber Stamps, Steel Name Stamps, 
Letters and Figures, Burning Brands, Seals, Baggage and Hotel Checks, 
Badges, Etc. (See Outside Cover.) Your orders in these articles will 
more than offset all you need for stock and material in Letter Cutting. 
By so doing you will grow into a trade that in a few years will demand 
all your time, and you can well afford to emplo3' agents in all these lines 
of w^ork. 

Large Stencil .Tools and Outfit. 

TA7"E are now importing and manufacturing Tools for Letter Cutting 
^ ^ or making Stencil Plates of all sizes, unexcelled in workmanship, 
and at very low figures. The Outfit consists of Thirty-six Tools (Chis- 
els and Gouges) in true straights and perfect citrves. The curved Tools 
are made in London, England, for us expres.sly for this purpose. The 
straights are made on*the best English Steel, carefully finished, tempered 
and warranted for service. Weguaranteethiskit of large tools to be larg- 
er, far superior to and different from any other make. We have used some 
of the foreign-made for over thirty years, and they are as good to-day 
as ever. They will make any size of letter from one-quarter inch up to a 
foot or more. The outfit consists of a good large Lignum VitiE Block. 
Steel Hammer, Steel Shears, Compasses, File, Flattener, Box ot India 
Stencil Ink, Brush, Sheet Brass, Six Sizes of Stencil Pattern Letters 
and Figures, and all other articles needed to do the best work in this 
line. Tliere lias been no sneh complete ontlit offered by any house in 
tliis country. 

In addition to this, if the trade is taught, we will include a receipt for 
making Stencil Inks of all colors, and a bound book of Sample Stencil 
Work containing an infinite variety of Styles, the collection of many 
years, and which cannot be appraised by a money consideration. From 
it, no one need be at a loss how to make or lay out any kind of work, or 
how to canvass for work. It contains the impressions of hundreds of 
dollars' worth of finished Stencil Plates. These Tools and Dies are 
always worth the monej^ they cost, and can be sold with little effort. 



V 



Learning the Trade. 



'■"RHERE is no light mechanical trade more interesting, and which for 
-^ the money invested, and the shortness of time required to learn it, 
that will pa}' better. If a j^oung man is moderately ingen- 
ious and has a taste for lettering, he can master it in 
bout two weeks' time under our instruction. We 

would be pleased to correspond with any person who desires to know 
more of this work. We have never before, and know of no one else in 
the craft, who would be willing to give such service unless under a com- 
plete apprenticeship, and an applicant for the chance should consider 
himself highly favored in this opportunity to acquire a good, reliable 
trade. We can also help him in ways no other Letter Cutter would be 
willing to, which will be made known on application. 

In the course of a long time spent in this business we have collected 
and made Stencil Plates for ever}' conceivable use, in great variety, giving 
those who are taught a far better start with the copied work than could 
be procured anywhere else. 



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RUBBER STA 



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T"HE demand for Rubber Stamps for use on paper and fo. 
work generally is increasing. We have an interest in the 
Vulcanizers yet invented for making Rubber Stamps and for S. 
-eotyping. They are made in three sizes, selling at $15, $25 aUv 
$35 each. Complete directions for use go with every machme, 
which, if not proved to w^ork satisfactorily after a week's thor- 
ough trial, can be returned and the money will be refunded. This 
is the latest improved and most scientifically constructed Rubber 
Stamp and Stereotyping Machine or Vulcanizer now in the mar- 
ket. Some of its principal advantages are its perfect action in 
taking the mould, and the regulating of the heat when vulcaniz- 
ing, — its simplicity, superior construction and general m4ke-up. 
They are particularly adapted for Printers' use. We woiild be 
pleased to give more extended particulars to any pt 
will correspond with us about Rubber Stamp w^ork. 1 
the chase for the largest machine is 5x9 inches. Outf 
made to vary in cost from $10 to $50 or more. 

(5X2 .A. -^It^'i^ "*' ^^ 

floUr brands. 



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$2.50. $3.00. 



Stanuard Printing Co., 114 Michigan St., Milwaukee, Wis. 




:has. H. Clarke, 



013 972 778 2« 



A 



K. Water and Wisooi»«in Sis., 



MILWAUKi:!-:, WIS.» 



-Manufacturer of atul Dealei' iii- 



.encil Plates. 
Stencil Alphabets. 
Stencil Figures. 
Stencil Dies. 
Stencil Ink. 
Stencil Brushes. 
Stencils, adjustable. 
Stencil Name Plates. 
Stencils, ornamental. 
Sten'^''''Tools. 
"^'|fits. 

i 
abets, 

res. 

wccci Name Stamps. 

Seals, Notary. 

Seals, Corporation. 

Seals, Court and Lodge. 

Seals, Business. 

Seals, Wax. 

Seal Presses. 

"Sliver Badges. 

Soap Dies. 

Society Badges. 

Medals. 

Baggage Checks. 

Coat and Key Checks. 

PoofV.nd Cash Checks. 

Restaurant Checks. 

Pocket Checks. 

Dog License Checks. 

Rubber Vulcanizers. 

Rubber Outfits. 



Machinery Plates. 
Carriage Plates. 
Door Plates. 
Pew and Desk Plates. 
Door Numbers for 
Pigeon Holes and Draws. 
Brass Labels. 
Burning Brands. 
Pattern Letters. 
Repousse Tools. 
Box Printing Plates. 
Check Protectors. 
Advertising Plates. 
Fence Signs. 
Numbering Machines. 
Rubber Stamps. 
Rubber Type. 
Metal Bodied Type. 
Pads and Ink. 
Self Inkers. 
Dates, all Sizes. 
Wood Cuts. 
Printing Wheels. 
Key Check Tools. 
Cards Engraved. 
Gold Pens re-pointed. 
Autographs. 
Monograms. 
Cancelling Stamps. 
Bank Stamps. 
Post Office Stamps. 
Indelible Ink. 
Self Inking Pads. 



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EVERYTHING IN THE STAMP AND BRAND LINE. 
SEND F^OR PRICES. 



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D dO AHvasii 



